Township votes to oppose ATV trail

EAGLES NEST TWP— A simmering clash between township residents and advocates of increased ATV traffic came to a head at a special town board meeting here last week, as town supervisors voted 3-2 to oppose any designated ATV trail through the community.
The vote came after an overwhelming outpouring of opposition by residents of the township to the plan by the Prospector’s Loop ATV Club to construct the high-traffic ATV corridor, which would provide a shortcut for riders traveling between Ely and Tower. Residents, one after another, spoke of their concerns about the noise and other environmental effects that the ATV route would have on those living near the trail. More than 400 township property owners, or nearly three-quarters of the total, signed a petition opposing the trail, which was presented to the board last month.
The vote to oppose the trail could be largely symbolic as Prospector’s trail coordinator Ron Potter said the club would continue to work with officials from the Department of Natural Resources and St. Louis County on permits for a route through the township. “Everything we’ve been working on includes a route through the township,” he told the board during last week’s special meeting. The town hall was packed with more than 50 residents, with many more participating via Zoom.
Potter, who had been part of a township-commissioned committee seeking to find a viable route that would minimize impacts to residents, said he would no longer work with township officials on seeking a route.
That township committee had identified three possible ATV routes, dubbed the northern, central, and southern routes. But township residents, organized under the banner of the Eagles Nest Trail Advocacy Group, had pushed for no route.
Town board chair Rich Floyd, during board discussion, said he was torn between the northern route and no route, but as each supervisor voiced their opinion, Floyd said he was convinced that the no route option was the most responsive to the residents.
Supervisor Kurt Soderberg was the most outspoken on the other side, arguing that given the political clout of the ATV groups, the concerns of township residents would likely have little impact in the end. He said St. Louis County officials were behind the ATV groups and would likely continue to issue new permits for the temporary ATV trail that was established through the township last year, much of which traveled along county roads. “I’m afraid the “just say no” option will keep that trail in place,” he said. “It’s just a slogan, not a strategy,” he added.
Soderberg said the township has many other needs and concerns that have fallen by the wayside as the community has been consumed by the ATV controversy. He said actually fighting for a no trail option would require township officials to attend county board meetings to seek a change in the county ordinance, which currently allows ATV use on county roads. “We would have to hire a lawyer and make multiple appearances,” he said. “And I think we would fail.”
He said the township has had to set aside other issues, such as ambulance service or pushing for broadband and he said he would not spend any more time on the ATV issue.
“We recently made people from the Tower ambulance service sit for three and a half hours because of this,” he said.
Soderberg said he thought the proposed central route could have the least impact on residents.
Supervisor Frank Sherman responded. “A lot of what Kurt said makes sense, but I don’t agree with him.” Sherman said he agreed that county officials were behind the growing use of ATVs in the region, mostly on economic grounds, but he said Eagles Nest only stood to lose from an increase in ATV traffic, with most of it coming from out-of-towners.
He cited the Minnesota Environmental Rights Act, which notes that individuals have a right to enjoy “quietude” among other environmental values. “The Minnesota Supreme Court says a government body has no authority to approve an action that violates the Minnesota Environmental Rights Act, unless there are no viable alternatives. He said the trail itself isn’t necessary, which means the no trail option is a viable alternative. “The vast majority of our residents signed that petition that asked us to defend their right to quietude,” he said.
Supervisor David Chiabotti, who was appointed to the board back in October, said he had thought the ATV issue was behind the board by the time he joined. He said he’s a firm supporter of the right of local residents to ride ATVs, but said he understands the desire of residents for the quiet they thought was part of the lifestyle in the township, which is why he preferred the no-trail option.
DeAnn Schatz said she’s seen lots of changes in the township over the past thirty years, including more noise, and that it may. But she also worries that without a trail, the ATVs will still find a way through the community. “My biggest thing is, if we don’t do anything, what’s going to happen?” she asked. “Will they go willy-nilly everywhere? If there’s a marked trail, 90 percent would stay on the trail. I think something marked is better than nothing.”
With two of the board members favoring no designated route, Floyd’s support made for a majority. He made a motion that the board opposes any route serving as an ATV corridor passing through the township or Bear Head Lake State Park. Floyd’s motion passed with additional support from Sherman and Chiabotti, while Soderberg and Schatz voted no.
Next steps
Opponents of the ATV trail acknowledge that their victory at the recent town board meeting isn’t the end of the fight.
“Basically, nothing has changed, except as the Prospector group moves forward, they will do so without the support of the local government or the local community,” said Bud Van Deusen, who helped organize the petition drive. “Nobody walked away giving high fives. But we felt we did the right thing.”
Van Deusen is optimistic, however, that there was growing awareness on the part of the DNR that residents throughout northern Minnesota value tranquility. “We enjoy our peace and quiet and have a right to it,” said Van Deusen and that’s a message that he expects township residents will bring to land managers at both the state and county level as efforts move forward to create a new trail through the township. Van Deusen said he expects any new trail will require an environmental assessment worksheet, and that document requires assessment of impact to adjacent property owners.
Eagles Nest residents see that question as providing an opportunity to make their case for a new approach when it comes to the creation of high-traffic ATV corridors through otherwise quiet, lake communities in northern Minnesota.